Coal boss transforms to raise chickens, leading villagers out of poverty to prosperity

Chicken House No. 1

The eco-farm under construction

Liu Ping (right) introducing the advantages of selenium-enriched green-shell laying hens

"I believe the difference between an entrepreneur and a boss is whether he has a sense of social responsibility. I used to run coal mines elsewhere and did make some money, but one person getting rich doesn't count as rich; only when everyone gets rich is it truly rich. I hope that through my own efforts, I can lead more people out of poverty to prosperity." On November 21, when we met "Chicken Commander" Liu Ping in Shirong Village, Pingshang Town, Xinshao County, Hunan Province, he had just finished a phone call beside Chicken House No. 1 of his company. On the other end of the line, an e-commerce platform in Shenzhen invited him to come as soon as possible to discuss the supply of selenium-enriched eggs, selenium-enriched chickens and other selenium-enriched products. In the chicken house, which comes with its own "exercise area" - a small grove of trees - tens of thousands of selenium-enriched green-shell laying hens were all in high spirits. Add to that Chicken Houses No. 2 and No. 3, which are about to start production, and the nearly 30,000 selenium-enriched chickens in total are the "cash cow" that Liu Ping refers to as his "prosperity" flagship.

This year, Liu Ping, who formerly operated coal mines elsewhere, keenly grasped the policy signals of the national supply-side reform to cut overcapacity and develop a green circular economy. He declined a high salary at a resource-based enterprise and returned to his hometown of Shirong Village, investing more than 20 million yuan, renting 500 mu of land, and founding Shaoyang Guangyu Selenium-Enriched Agricultural Products Company. At present, the company raises more than 10,000 Sanyi green-shell laying hens, which are growing well. At the same time, around selenium-enriched chicken farming, Liu Ping has also developed earthworm, fish and shrimp farming, Chinese medicinal herb cultivation, and fruit cultivation as part of a green circular economy, and has launched the construction of an eco-farm integrating leisure sightseeing, parent-child experiences and food tasting. The company currently employs more than 30 local villagers and hopes to lead surrounding farming households to prosperity together.

"My chickens are fed with earthworms and use Chinese medicinal herbs to resist disease, and the chicken manure is excellent fertilizer for growing fruit trees and Chinese medicinal herbs. When guests come to our farm, all the ingredients are green, environmentally friendly, organic selenium-enriched products. In the future, I want to promote these healthy products among the villagers in the form of company plus farming households, so that everyone can get rich together with me."